Voice & touch controls suddenly stopped working on all Google devices

[timter51 6]

I've had Emby running nicely on TrueNas for past few years, using Android phones / tablets to cast it from the official app to a Google Nest Audio, 2 x Nest Minis and a Google Next Hub. All this time, once Emby has been cast to a device, I've been able to use basic voice controls through that device (volume, pause, skip etc.) and touch controls (volume, start/stop). All of a sudden sometime over the past month I would say, this has stopped working properly on all devices. I can cast fine as usual, but can only control volume on the devices, I can't start/stop or skip tracks with voice or touch.

The Android app hasn't updated since August and I haven't done anything to my Google Home setup. Anyone aware of something that might have caused this?

[socrates75 4]

Ya im having the exact same problem, i can use the emby app on my phone and cast to my chrome cast fine but can no longer ask google home to pause or stop, nothing happens and when using the google home app i cant pause or stop with the buttons either now, everything else i cast to the tv works fine with the home app and voice control, and like you it all worked great for years and only in the last 2 weeks its started doing this

[timter51 6]

10 hours ago, socrates75 said:

Ya im having the exact same problem, i can use the emby app on my phone and cast to my chrome cast fine but can no longer ask google home to pause or stop, nothing happens and when using the google home app i cant pause or stop with the buttons either now, everything else i cast to the tv works fine with the home app and voice control, and like you it all worked great for years and only in the last 2 weeks its started doing this

Glad it's not me going mad!! I can only think it's a Google Home update that's caused this, and Emby devs need to tweak something on the app? I've tinkered with everything and can't find anything causing it.

[socrates75 4]

ya me too, reinstalled emby app, emby server, reinstalled all google home and chromecast devices, still same thing  hopefully it gets fixed soon

[Jdiesel 1431]

I don't use Emby with Google Home but I suspect that it has to do with the migration to Google Home Developer Console that is currently underway. I got an email about it because I use it with Home Assistant. 

[socrates75 4]

Just now, Jdiesel said:

I don't use Emby with Google Home but I suspect that it has to do with the migration to Google Home Developer Console that is currently underway. I got an email about it because I use it with Home Assistant. 

Is that an emby thing or google thing? and do you know if they are aware that its broken the voice control feature? sorry not sure who else to ask lol

[SilverTongue1 1]

Just want to report the same issue here.

[timter51 6]

@Lukeit would be nice to get some official feedback on this, with Christmas coming I (and I'm sure many others) will have music playing around the house regularly, it's going to be a real pita having to use phones / tablets to control playback manually.

[timter51 6]

For anyone else having the same problem, Symfonium works great on Android (haven't tried on Apple devices yet). You can add your Emby server in the media providers section, and you can cast to Google devices from the app. Voice and touch controls currently working fine  

*edit: it doesn't automatically detect your Emby server, not sure why I thought that, but just add the server details and you'll be golden.

Edited December 12, 2024 by timter51

[Luke 42078]

Hi, we are looking into this. Thanks.

[socrates75 4]

14 hours ago, Luke said:

Hi, we are looking into this. Thanks.

Is this something that if fixed you will release an update or will it sort its self out on our end? sorry not sure how the updates work on the app, and thanks for looking into it

[Luke 42078]

On 12/15/2024 at 11:55 AM, socrates75 said:

Is this something that if fixed you will release an update or will it sort its self out on our end? sorry not sure how the updates work on the app, and thanks for looking into it

I think we'll know once we have the solution, but probably something that will sort itself out. Thanks.

[socrates75 4]

Anyone able to get it to work yet?

[Luke 42078]

3 hours ago, socrates75 said:

Anyone able to get it to work yet?

Hi, we are looking into it. Thanks.

[socrates75 4]

2 minutes ago, Luke said:

Hi, we are looking into it. Thanks.

Ok cool sorry man, didnt mean for you to have to come answer right away lol just checking to see, i figure once in awhile i will just try yelling out the command on google home to see if it works lol

[socrates75 4]

Just checking in lol still cant work, i was wondering if this is only effecting the free users?

[timter51 6]

54 minutes ago, socrates75 said:

Just checking in lol still cant work, i was wondering if this is only effecting the free users?

Nope, I'm Emby Premiere. I can highly recommend using Symfonium on Android as you player to cast to Google Home (you can add your Emby server as a source), voice controls work perfectly.

[socrates75 4]

Ya just looked it up but its only for music where as im needing emby to cast and control movies and tv shows, thanks though man

[socrates75 4]

Should i just start a new thread about this? its been months and still nothing and no idea when it will be fixed, i cast through vlc and other apps and i have voice and phone control no problem,but use emby and its dead,no control at all other then through the app but no voice with googe home

[Luke 42078]

On 3/14/2025 at 3:49 PM, socrates75 said:

Should i just start a new thread about this? its been months and still nothing and no idea when it will be fixed, i cast through vlc and other apps and i have voice and phone control no problem,but use emby and its dead,no control at all other then through the app but no voice with googe home

hi, apologies for the delay. We are looking at this.

[socrates75 4]

11 hours ago, Luke said:

hi, apologies for the delay. We are looking at this.

No problem man  and thanks for keeping us posted 

[socrates75 4]

On 3/28/2025 at 1:35 AM, Luke said:

hi, apologies for the delay. We are looking at this.

It works!!! i randomly asked google to pause it just for kicks and its working now! thankyou for the work you guys did to fix the problem!